Steering a more partnership-driven organization committed in keeping with its mandate of strengthening ties towards Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (ATTAIN), the Southeast Asia Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) renewed its partnership with the Oscar M. Lopez Center (OML Center) in a virtual ceremony held via Zoom on 23 February 2021.
Clockwise from top, right: Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director; Dr. Rodel D. Lasco, OML Center Executive Director; Ms. Perpilili A. Tiongson, OML Center Associate Director; and Mr. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, each hold a copy of the MOU between SEARCA and OML Center they signed in a virtual ceremony on 23 February 2021.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio, SEARCA Director, and Dr. Rodel D. Lasco, OML Center Executive Director, with Mr. Joselito G. Florendo, SEARCA Deputy Director for Administration, and Ms. Perpilili A. Tiongson, OML Center Associate Director, as witnesses.
The OML Center is a non-profit organization principled on the role that science must play in building the resilience of communities through actionable knowledge and relevant climate information management.
Following its mission, OML Center has been SEARCA’s active partner under the Knowledge Center on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia (KC3). OML Center contributes greatly to strengthening the capacity of Southeast Asians in climate change adaptation and mitigation through exchanging scientific information and other resources on climate change.
Other previous collaborations of OML Center and SEARCA include developing a course on "Integrating Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Policies, Plans and Investments toward Inclusive and Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development," which is now offered by UP Open University, and two knowledge sharing writeshops on climate change adaptation (CCA) held in 2015.
OML Center and SEARCA agreed to continue implementing activities related to climate change, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management, and climate resilience.
One of the projects in the pipeline is enhancement of climate change awareness in the agri-food system and support to youth actions on climate-smart agriculture.
Ms. Marianna L. Vargas, OML Center Partnerships Manager, reinforced that “the youth has become a powerful and formidable force especially in addressing the climate crisis.”
Dr. Gregorio affirmed that SEARCA also focuses on CCA and youth engagement given its priority focus on enhanced agriculture and rural development (ARD) towards climate resilience and gender and youth engagement in ARD as part of the Center’s seven priority areas.
“We recognize the important role of OML’s climate resilience in being at the forefront of delivering basic services to the scientific community. SEARCA is one with you in forwarding this endeavor of championing and cultivating a climate-smart community for our respective stakeholders,” said Dr. Gregorio.
Dr. Lasco responded that “OML is excited to sign this renewal of partnership with SEARCA and we look forward beyond this undertaking for our Filipino community and the rest of Southeast Asia.”
The SEARCA officials and staff led by Dr. Gregorio together with the OML Center delegation.